This is a problem now for about two days.
I am running FTM Version 16 with Vista (SP2).
When I click on the "Web Search Resources" button, that search page comes up, but no search takes place. I don't see the icon with the little houses at the top; I just see the moving magnifying glass. The blue indicator bar doesn't work. It freezes after moving only a few millimeters across the line. At this point, although the magnifying glass continues to move, nothing works. "Cancel" shows it is being clicked on, but does nothing. The back arrow and the X to close the program or window are dead.
I have waited as long as four hours, but the only way to do anything with FTM is to close it with the task manager. That gives a warning message, but so far I haven't noticeably lost any data.
I have tried the %temp%\FTW suggestion to no avail. I used to have a similar problem (not searching, but not freezing), and I found I could solve it by running Piriform CCleaner, which was probably doing the same as the %temp%\FTW method. CCleaner doesn't help now, either.
I tried reinstalling FTM, but that didn't help. I have the same trouble with several FTM files and numerous individuals in the trees.
I moved to Internet Explorer 9 when it came out, but the FTM search function has worked since then.
I have a fast DSL connection. My Ancestry.com subscription works fine with IE9, and it shows I am signed in. Of course, I have restarted the computer.
Did I forget anything? I guess it is clear that I've already searched for an answer.
The only possibly related matter is that I have to run FTM as administrator, but that isn't new.
I have been using the "Web Search Resources" function successfully and with pleasure and would hate to have to give it up.
Grateful for help,
Walter Turner